Yang Guang Employs Slander To Seize The Succession; Empress Dugu's Jealousy Leads To A Palace Consort's Death (3)

Empress Dugu was by nature extraordinarily jealous.

Although the palace contained crowds of beautiful consorts and women, splendid as flowers and brocade, the Sui ruler could do no more than admire them.

Which of them could ever hope to receive his favor?

Unexpectedly, one day the empress fell slightly ill and remained in her quarters to recover.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Sui ruler brought a few young eunuchs with him and secretly wandered through the various palace buildings.

He strolled for a while before the Que Tower, then stood for some time in Linfang Hall.

He saw groups of talented ladies, court women, Jieyu, and imperial consorts, all dressed in embroidered silks and adorned with gold and jade.

Yet imperial favor does not depend upon appearance alone. Even peach blossoms seemed too red and plum blossoms too white.

After looking about for some time, he found none who pleased him.

Wandering wherever his steps carried him, he eventually reached Renshou Palace.

By a fortunate coincidence, he saw a young palace maid rolling up a pearl curtain.

When she noticed the Sui ruler approaching, she hurriedly released the curtain hook, bowed gracefully like a swaying willow, then rose and stood beside an embroidered screen with her eyes lowered.

The Sui ruler looked at her carefully.

Her face was as beautiful as flowers beneath the moon, and she possessed a hundred charms and a thousand graces.

As the verse says:

Her smile was a spring flower greeting the breeze;
Her whiteness surpassed a flawless mass of snow.
Her spirit held the stillness of autumn waters;
Her slender frame seemed formed from pear blossoms and clouds.
A blue moon might serve as her shining earrings;
Light mist might be cut into her silken garments.
She needed neither light powder nor elaborate paint;
Her beauty belonged to the palace’s own fashion.

The Sui ruler asked:

“When did you enter the palace? Why have I never seen you attending to me?”

The palace maid knelt.

“This humble servant is the granddaughter of Yuchi Jiong. Ever since I entered the palace, Her Majesty has assigned me to this place and forbidden me to come and go without permission. That is why I have never attended to Your Majesty.”

The Sui ruler smiled.

“Rise. Her Majesty is not here today. It will do no harm if you come and go freely.”

While they were speaking, the attendants approached and invited him to return for his evening meal.

The Sui ruler said:

“I shall dine here.”

Before long, a banquet was prepared.

He ordered Lady Yuchi to attend to him and drink with him.

Lady Yuchi had little capacity for wine, but the emperor showed her such affection that she reluctantly drank several cups.

He then remained overnight in Renshou Palace.

The following morning, the Sui ruler rose early to attend court.

Feeling thoroughly satisfied, he thought:

“Only today have I learned the pleasures of being emperor! But if the empress discovers this, how shall I deal with her?”

Although Empress Dugu was ill, she could not set aside her suspicions and repeatedly sent trusted palace women to gather information.

Before long, someone reported what had happened.

Hearing the news, the empress was overcome with rage.

Disregarding her illness, she gathered several dozen palace women and marched furiously to Renshou Palace.

At that moment, Lady Yuchi had finished washing and dressing and was examining how much of the yellow cosmetic marking on her arm had faded.

Suddenly, she saw the empress approaching with a crowd of attendants.

Her face turned ashen with fright, and her heart leaped like a terrified fawn.

She hurriedly knelt upon the floor.

The empress had scarcely entered the palace before she ordered:

“Drag that seductive fox before me!”

The palace women cared nothing for Lady Yuchi’s delicate waist or lovely face.

Some seized her disheveled hair, while others pulled her embroidered sash, roughly dragging her before the empress.

Empress Dugu cursed her.

“You wicked slave! What seductive tricks have you used to bewitch the sovereign and corrupt the proper order of my palace?”

Lady Yuchi replied, trembling:

“Your servant is a lowly person. How could I fail to know Her Majesty’s rules? How would I dare seek imperial favor?”

“It seems that my fate is to die. Last night, His Majesty unexpectedly came to this palace for his evening meal. After drinking, he wished to remain here and favor me.”

“Your servant repeatedly refused, but His Majesty would not listen. With no other choice, I submitted to his wishes.”

“This was His Majesty’s decision and had nothing to do with your servant. I beg Your Majesty to take pity on me and spare my life.”

Empress Dugu said:

“You wicked slave! You enjoyed yourself last night! Who knows how you displayed your charms and enticed that shameless emperor?”

“And now you use fine words to shift all responsibility from yourself!”

She shouted to the palace women:

“Beat her severely!”

Lady Yuchi knocked her head against the floor.

“I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!”

Empress Dugu replied:

“Since His Majesty loves you so much, you should ask him to spare you!”

“Why did you enjoy yourself last night without concern for your life, only to come begging me today?”

“You seductive slave! I relaxed my guard for scarcely a moment, and you managed to deceive him.”

“Even if I have you beaten to death today, I shall regret only that I acted too late. It will not be enough to relieve the anger in my heart!”

“How could I leave behind such a source of disaster to threaten me?”

“Attendants, put an end to her life at once!”

At this command, the palace women all attacked her.

Poor Lady Yuchi! How could her delicate body endure such violence?

There was no need for sharp swords or steel blades. Her beauty was extinguished, and her body was broken.

As the verse says:

To enter the palace and gain favor is itself a sorrow;
Yesterday’s blossoming flower lies ruined today.
One night’s tender affection could not preserve her;
Already her bones descend to the realm of the dead!